Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;BIRDIE&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Birdie’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white and purple/violet with purple/violet veins and a purple/violet labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Birdie’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Birdie’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Birdie’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Birdie’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Mem. Gordon Aamoth Junior’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Snow Leopard’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Birdie’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Birdie’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white and purple/violet with purple/violet         veins and a purple/violet labellum;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Birdie’, the female parent ‘Mem. Gordon Aamoth Junior’ has purple with yellow flowers, the male parent ‘Snow Leopard’ has white colored flowers with purple marks and a yellow/red labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘Birdie’ are white and purple/violet with purple/violet veins and a purple/violet labellum

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Birdie’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Valley Buzz’ (unpatented). The color purple/violet in the flowers of ‘Birdie’ is lighter than the purple/violet in the flowers of ‘Valley Buzz’. Furthermore, ‘Birdie has a purple/violet labellum, whereas the labellum of ‘Valley Buzz is purple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Birdie’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Birdie’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Birdie’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Birdie’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Birdie’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Birdie’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Birdie’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Birdie’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Birdie’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Birdie’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Birdie’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Birdie’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Mem. Gordon Aamoth Junior’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Snow Leopard’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 194A); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 40 cm Spread: about 35 to 50 cm.         -   Growth habit.—small; green leaves (RHS 137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 to 12 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, narrow and tip is little             pointy.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 13 to 19 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 6 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS 137A) Under side:             green (RHS 137C).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 137A) under side: green (RHS 137C). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 2 to 5.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 30.         -   Length.—about 35 to 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—brown (RHS 200A) with yellow/green spots (RHS 146D).         -   Internode.—Length: about 22 mm. -   Inflorescence description: -   Appearance: Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with     bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning     with the lowermost flower. -   Buds:     -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 18 mm.         -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 12 mm.         -   Shape.—oval with a bump on the side.         -   Color.—purple (RHS N79D) with purple veins (RHS N79B) in             some yellow/green (RHS 145C). -   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not     undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of     18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30     weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to     20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be     expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a     leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent. -   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness     of cut flowers: has not been observed -   Fragrance: No fragrance -   Flower:     -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days             after petal and sepal separation.         -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.         -   Shape.—Typical shape of Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2.         -   Size (of single bloom).—Height: about 40 mm Diameter: about             45 mm Depth of tube: about 10 mm. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—three petals and three sepals that             are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals             are more pronounced than sepals.         -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral             petals and labellum.         -   2 lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate, little             triangular and weakly cupped Apex: oval/round, little pointy             Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate             Length: about 22 mm Width: about 22 mm Texture: Upper             surface: smooth and satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny             Color (when fully opened): upper side: A small white edge             all around (RHS NN155C). Further purple/violet (RHS N81D)             with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). Under side: A small             white edge all around (RHS NN155C); rest is purple/violet             (RHS N81D) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81B and RHS N81A).             Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent             callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and             base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward             about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is             terminated by 2 short stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral             lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe             is triangular with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about 15 mm Width (not             flattened): about 15 mm Texture: Upper and under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Midlobe upper             side: purple/violet (RHS N81A), at the base a red/purple             haze on top of that (RHS 60A). Under side: Main color is             purple/violet (RHS N81A). From base in center a white stripe             (RHS N155A) which runs into purple (RHS 77C). At the base             also two yellow/green spots (RHS 145D). The upper edges are             purple (RHS N79A). Lateral lobes, upper side: At the base             upper edge is white (RHS NN155C) with at the beginning some             yellow (RHS 9B) and red/purple stripes/spots (RHS 59A).             Under edge first little purple (RHS N79B) and then             purple/violet (RHS N81A). Under side: At the base upper edge             is white (RHS NN155B). Under edge is purple (RHS N79B). Both             colors run into purple/violet (RHS N81A). At the base on the             white also some red/purple stripes (RHS 59A). Cirrhi: small             (about 1 mm) color: purple/violet (RHS N81A) Pestle             (Callosities): Length: about 3 mm Width (not flattened):             about 4 mm Color: some white on the sides (RHS NN155B); rest             is yellow (RHS 6A) with purple spots (RHS N79C). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals.         -   Overall shape.—elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire             and weakly undulate Length: about 23 mm Width: about 16 mm             Apex: oval/little pointy Texture: Upper and under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Upper side:             Dorsal: small white edge all around (RHS NN155C). Rest is             red/purple (RHS 69C) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A and             RHS N81B). Lateral: white (RHS NN155C) with purple/violet             veins and purple/violet spots at the base (RHS N81A and RHS             N81B). Under side: Dorsal and lateral: small white edge all             around (RHS NN155C). Rest is purple/violet (RHS N81C and RHS             N81D) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). -   Pedicel: -   Length: About 22 mm -   Diameter: About 2 mm -   Texture: Glabrous and smooth -   Color: Purple/violet (RHS N80C) which runs into RHS N80B and after     that in greyed/purple (RHS N187B) and at the end RHS N187A. -   Reproductive organs: -   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,     short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther     with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an     anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the     pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The     plant has not produced seed. -   Column:     -   -   Length.—about 8 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 4 mm.         -   Color.—purple/violet (RHS N81A) which runs into RHS N81D. -   Pollinia:     -   -   Quantity.—two.         -   Diameter.—about 1 mm.         -   Color.—orange (RHS 24A). -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—about 3 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 4 mm.         -   Color.—white (RHS N155B). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Birdie’, as illustrated and described herein. 